Effects of Pollution on Human Health

Effects of pollution on Human Health are extremely alarming. There are many diseases that can bring about a host of potentially fatal illnesses. From chronic bronchitis to lung cancer, air pollution has the potential to raise the risk of illness.

Air pollution and its link to the respiratory system is quite obvious. However, air pollution is also known to affect the circulatory system and the nervous system. When particular matter enters the nasal cavity, the lining gets irritated and the body may mistake it for an infection. This causes an inflammatory response, which can result in the exacerbation of any pre-existing conditions.

What are the Consequences of Pollution on Human Health?

• Human health is also severely affected by particulates in the atmosphere. The particulates can cause nasal irritation and swelling. It can also cause a runny nose.

• Air pollution is additionally linked to lung damage and limited lung function

• Air pollution can also have an inflammatory effect on the heart – it can elevate blood pressure and aggravate pre-existing conditions of the heart.

• The risk of death significantly increases with long term exposure to polluted air. For instance, people susceptible to heart diseases are at higher risk.

Most Causes of pollution are often mainly attributed to anthropogenic causes. This means humans are liable for causing pollution. Water pollution is often defined because of the introduction of pollutants into a body of water. These can cause detrimental effects on the organisms that live in the water body or interact with the water. However, the causes of pollution can occur from natural processes or phenomena too.

Causes and Effects of Air Pollution

The Burning of Fossil Fuel

When we burn fossil fuels, such as coal or oil, carbon monoxide gets released into the air and pollutes the air we breathe. When we inhale the toxic air, it deteriorates our heart’s ability to pump the oxygen and leads to various respiratory illnesses 

Industrial Emission 

When the industry doesn't follow the government regulations to curb air pollution, several pollutants get released into the air. From nitrogen oxide to carbon monoxide, these gases are harmful to human health. It can lead to irritation in the eyes, throat, breathing and more. 

Wildfire 

Today, climate change should be taken on priority as it is not just deteriorating the environment, but also causing population problems. Wildfires occur because of climate change, which causes smog, burns forest and causes damage. This also leads to difficulty in breathing, throat, and more. 

Open Burning of Garbage Waste 

Even today, open burning of garbage is a practice that is used in major cities. If we take the example of India's capital, Delhi, it generates about 9500 tons of waste every day and this gets burned, which leads to various health issues, such as liver issues, problems with reproductive functions, problems with the immune system, and more. 

Use of Chemicals and Transportation 

Use of chemical infused products and vehicle pollution can cause the release of harmful pollutants into the air. When vehicle pollution becomes excessive, it can create a hole in the ozone layer, which leads to smog and other various health issues.

Causes of Water Pollution

Water is able to dissolve many substances, hence it is called the universal solvent. This is an equivalent reason why pollution occurs easily. Following are the causes of water pollution:

Sewage and Wastewater

Many people put their waste directly into water bodies. Moreover, households may use septic tanks, which eventually infiltrate into the soil, causing pollution of groundwater which is not served by municipal treatment plants. 

Industrial Effluents and Industrial Usage

Some industries may directly pump their untreated wastes into water bodies like rivers. Moreover, various industries also use water as a coolant, thereby causing pollution . Increased water temperatures can cause a reduction in the levels of oxygen; which can cause the death of fish and other organisms.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication is caused when large quantities of nutrients are introduced into a body of water, causing the rapid growth of algae. This can decrease the oxygen level within the water, rendering the fish unable to breathe. Moreover, this phenomenon also can introduce dangerous toxins into the water body, which may harm or kill most organisms, including humans

Deforestation

Deforestation can cause soil erosion. When these loose soil particles enter a water body, they will make the water murky. This can make the water very misty as it also has the capability to cause mechanical damage to aquatic organisms, (such as sand particles getting stuck in gills).

Agricultural Run-Offs

Agricultural run-offs include fertilizers and other chemicals which will make the water toxic. Moreover, some of these fertilizers can induce eutrophication.

Accidents

Accidents can involve events such as leaks and oil spills. Oil spills, in particular, are very damaging to the environment and aquatic life. It occurs when large oil tankers, barges or drilling rigs are involved in accidents. The most well-known oil spill was that of the troubled Horizon, which occurred on 20th April 2010.

Causes and Effects of Noise Pollution 

Man-Made Noise Pollution 

Industrialization, poor urban planning, transportation and more lead to noise pollution. While slight noise can be okay for the human ears, when the noise goes from 30-140 dB it is very harmful for the humans. Right from headaches, problems with the vision, it can lead to various issues. 

Environmental Noise Pollution 

Environmental noise pollution is what occurs naturally. If it goes beyond 140 dB, it can adversely affect human health. Some of the examples of environmental noise pollution include thunderstorms, sounds from animals, and more.